2 Dead Chaffinches

[Dave66]

Hi, I was sitting in the front room today when I heard that horrible noise of a bird hitting a window. I went out and sure enough there was a dead chaffinch on the back step. It had flown into the door window. This window is about 18 inches across by 30 inches high. There are no windows opposite to let the birds think they can fly through, in fact our kitchen doesn't get much light at all. I removed the bird and went back in the front room. Only tem minutes later I heard the noise again. Sure enough there was another dead chaffinch on the back step. Can't understand it, we never get birds flying into the back windows and then these 2 only 10 minutes apart.

Dave.

[Picidae]

Dave

When you're 'removing' dead birds from the back door remember to check they are not just unconscious! They often recover if you just hold them in your hands for 10 mins or so.

Some silhouette stickers on the window may help. I'm afraid it's the time of year when there's a lot of manic chasing around between potential breeders that can result in 'careless' flying and also the time of year when window strikes occur more frequently as birds attack their reflections in the glass thinking they are a competitor for breeding territory.

[Dave66]

Thanks Picidae, I waited a good 5 minutes before i "laid them to rest". I could understand if it was the front windows. They were both males and there is a lot of squabling going on like you say. I'll see if i can hang something up to alert them.

Dave.

[RKB]

Birds usually fly into windows because, from the outside, tress etc are reflected and they look like nice squares of foliage. So silhouettes only work if on the outside (if they're on the inside, they can be invisible behind the reflection).

[SheffieldLass]

Have you got snow on the ground? That can reflect the garden back more clearly than normal. My parents in France have that problem when it snows, and have to keep the shutters closed, otherwise there is very high bird strike rate.

[Dave66]

Hi Sheffieldlass
No we don't have snow at the moment, don't get much snow up here. I think Picidae is probably right, The male chaffinches are too busy eyeing up the females to see where there going. Both birds were males. Our back garden is quite dark because of over hanging trees which means very little in the way of reflections on the glass.

Thanks
Dave.